The Green Party of England and Wales has adopted a radical policy in support of boycotting Israel.

At its spring conference in Reading over the weekend, delegates agreed to back the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” campaign launched by Palestinian groups which urge “broad boycotts” of Israel similar to those imposed on apartheid South Africa.

According to the resolution, whose proposers included the party’s international co-ordinator Joseph Healy: “For 40 years Israel has colonised Palestine while steadily ethnically cleansing the land of its indigenous population and for 40 years has illegally occupied the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights.” The original wording had begun “for 60 years” but was amended.

Richard Mallender, the Green Party chairman, said the motion was “not meant to be hostile” but “expressed Conference’s concern about the [security] barrier being built outside the recognised borders of Israel”.